Talk to me about Costco....

[CountessDracula]

I am thinking of joining

Tell me about all the lovely bargains you have had there

no-one?

Horrible place.

I don't buy major items there - such as tvs, etc. I buy food in bulk (have a cellar so plenty of storage room). I do find that buying non-perishables in this way does save me a lot of money, plus I find that I rarely run out of basics. Obviously I buy perishables locally on as and when I need them.

I have a larder and store thing so can buy in bulk (ish)

Is it a lot cheaper for basics then?

I think it can be safely assumed it is vile!

Is it good for catering parties
I'm sure someone said they do great tarts etc

When I did my first shop there I did a comparison with Sainsburys (which is where I used to do my weekly grocery shop). My bill at Costco was just under £250. The Sainsburys equivalent would have cost almost £350. So it's worth putting up with the vileness once a month, imo.

they do bloody gorgeous birthday cakes for £10 the size of an A3 sheet of paper - but obviously thicker!!

I go in there for a big bottle of ketchup and walk out having spent over a hundred quid. They get you because you think everything's such a bargain.

It is good for stocking up on ketchup though.

God no - it isn't vile at all!

It is high quality goods without the flash shopping experience - but no, no, no it is not vile!

I can forewarn you though, that every penny that you save from buying in bulk will mysteriously vanish before getting to the check out as you survey your basket full to brimming of things you didn't know you needed when you stepped into the shop!

It has a lovely wine selection too

The Pplace isnt vile IMO. Some of the shoppers can be, but you get that everywhere.

As long as you have somewhere to store bulk purchases it's good imo.

Things we regularly buy there are nappies, wipes, baby bath, soap powder, dishwasher stuff, toilet roll, meat (steaks and joints very good quality and price), fish (mainly cod), ravioli type pasta plus sauces, parmesna and Italian meats.

They also have seasonal things in like garden stuff etc. Good for presents at Christmas.

We never buy fruit or veg there as it tends to go off quite quickly and the portions you buy in mean you throw a lot away.

It's not the nicest shopping experience in the world, but is worth it. Oh and the pizzas and baked potatoes they have in the restaurant are great too.

We moved to America in August, and Costco is a way of life here for many. We joined about a month ago, and it is great.

Not sure what I'm about to say holds true for Costco in the UK, but recent purchases at a good price include soup (had to buy 12 cans), Kitchen towel (again think 12 rolls), swim costume/swim goggles for dd, contraption to store garden hose, cookery book for sister's birthday, etc.

Another friend bought a climbing frame/slide/swing 'fort' for the back garden - not sure how she got it home...though it came in massive flat pack which had to be assembled! She also bought a set of luggage, which she says is a name brand who have produced a line exclusively for Costco that can be bought at a significant discount off 'normal' store price.

DD loves to go as they are always handing out free food samples, so she trots around trying out all that's on offer. In order for food to really be worth it, you've got to freeze in quantity - unless you have a big family. Their produce is good - last week we got a huge box of strawberries at a fairly remarkable price. Their meat looks nice too, but I haven't tried (my pal swears by it). They've got name brands in freezer section, just in huge catering size boxes.

The only thing that caught me off guard is that they only accept cash, cheques and debit cards (or their own issued Amex).

Have you been in to look around?

Also have bought petrol there, at a very good price. Plan to check out prices too before I replace tyres on my car in the next month or so.

We ususally buy non-perishables but also things like big blocks of cheddar and freeze some. The meat we've had is excellent, especially the beef - steak is great. If you are catering for lots of people it's a good place to go to get a really big joint of meat or as a special treat whole fillet of beef.

I've also bought some Birkenstocks there - I think they were £18. Own brand batteries are very good. You can buy postage stamps at a good discount off face value.

IME, you've really got to know the high street prices otherwise you can get lulled into thinking you've got a real bargain. Take a calculator. We bought a ridiculous amount of loo roll but actually only saved less than a penny a roll.

I don't find it vile at all though, it's just a different shopping experience.

Yes, the meet is fab - they do a whole fillet of beef which is fabulous for entertaining!

They also do full sides of smoked salmon and in the summer time whole poached salmon too.

They do large catering packs of parma ham, bresola, salami etc which with a pack of rocket a chunk of parmesan (ridiculously cheap) and buffalo mozzarella is the makings of a great anti pasto dish!

that would be 'meat' not 'meet'

I don't know what is wrong with me today - I sent a message to someone v senior at work using 'fowl' instead of 'foul' earlier - maybe it was lunchtime and I was obsessing about a chicken sandwich

I buy

Soap powder (fairy) much cheaper
Vanish inwashes
Comfort
Dishwaser tablets
Foil (takeaways) dish thingy's to put in the freezer for leftovers (also use to give dh his salads to take to work so i don't have to worry about a box turning up weeks later )

There meat is also quite good value.

Dh's buys their own photo paper as it is a lot cheaper then branded and just as good.

As Deux you have no the price of thing in the shops, so i make a list of what we are getting included the size Eg fairy soap powder is x amount for 90 washes and in costco it is y amount for 150. You also have to watch that you look at the price inc VAT.

Oh FGS not 'no' Know.

I can second the photo paper

Dishwasher tablets
fabric softner
Bin bags - great quality
Kirkland batteries
Kirkland nappies

The steak is great, my MIL gets it and cuts in thinner, as it is really thick cut.

energy saving light bulbs too.

We used to live with one nearby (in Reading), but now are in the sticks oop north and have to travel to Newcastle

We went yesterday, and it really is amazing what they have there - mattresses, tellys, golf clubs, garden furniture, laptops, massive toolkits with every kind of wrench/screwdriver imagineable, dvds, etc. They even had decorative front doors for houses and a jetted outiside whirlpool tub!

There were, of course, people in the checkout queue with carts loaded to the brim, but what surprised me was how many people appeared to have just 'popped in' for only a few items - mainly produce.

We only 'popped in' to the Reading one yesterday.......£230 later...

It's not as awful as I thought it be. Some things really are worth the trip and the yearly subscription. I'll second the tasty steak...and the angus mince. We always have to have a tray of pastries too

Some good brand names there too. We get organic snack bars for DD and the organic tins of tomatoes are way cheaper than Sainsbury. Some of the toys are also very well priced....as are books...for the kids and grown ups. Cheap birkenstocks too!

Some things really are no differently priced to the high st though - so it helps to know what you wantand not get carried away

I am a BIG BIG Costco fan.
As are all dh's fmaily.
Feckle is mad not to buy big items form them. That is the best thing about Costco. The have a no quibble returns policy. You buy a toster/hoover/tv/ and after 4 years it breaks, noisy./ whatever. You return it and they replace it or give you back the exact price that you paid.
My sil's all buy they hoovers/fridges / washing machines form there. When it breaks, they get the latest version. For free.
Why would you buy any electrical item ANYWHERE ELSE ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Their food is all american. High quality. Good.

LOL at Jeanjenaie. Dh says we can't go to cosco yet, we can't afford it. Like you, we can't get out the door for less than £200

IT IS THE BEST PLACE EVER , I MEAN EVER.

So if I am going to have to do packed lunches for DS1 next year is it a good place to go to get things like little cartons of juice etc?

They do HUUUUGE birthday cakes for about a tenner and they are delicious.
They are custom made too - sponge/cream/jam/chocolate combinations and you can choose how it's decorated - the roses or balloons are particularly pretty.

I'm sorry to say that they are always better recieved than the £40 Waitrose/ M$S cakes and also home made ones. (well, I'm not that sorry )

Kassius, god yes, their cakes are to die for. Everyone who comes to parties comments on the costco cake.
Jingley, yes it is perfect for things like that.